Methods and apparatus to control workouts on strength machines

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods to control a workout on a strength machine are described. An example system includes a sensor interface to receive a physiological condition of a user during use of the strength machine, and a controller coupled to the strength machine to cause a change of an exercise parameter based on the physiological condition.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to co-pending U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 60/909,283, entitled “Methods and Apparatus to ControlWorkouts on Strength Machines,” filed on Mar. 30, 2007, and is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure relates generally to exercise equipment, and, moreparticularly, to methods and apparatus to control workouts on strengthmachines.

BACKGROUND

Currently, a person who is exercising, i.e., an exerciser, must rely onhis or herself, an observer and/or personal trainer to determine anappropriate weight to be used for an exercise on a strength trainingexercise machine and to count repetitions and/or sets. Further, torecord the exercise parameters (e.g., weight to be lifted, repetitions,sets, etc.) for further reference or analysis, the exerciser typicallyuses, for example, paper and pencil or relies on their memory. Suchmanual methods are inherently prone to error both during the exercisingand during the recording. For example, the exerciser may record theincorrect number of repetitions if they lost count while exercising.

In addition, conventional methods for exercising on a strength machinetypically do not provide a way of increasing the efficiency of anexercise. Instead, the exerciser typically analyzes and/or calculatesthe exercise parameters to determine the most efficient amount of weightto be lifted or repetitions or sets to perform based on their exercisegoals. Performing such analyses and/or calculations during a workouttakes time and may actually decrease the efficiency and effectiveness ofa workout. In addition, performing such analyses and/or calculationsafter a workout does not provide real-time feedback and control over aworkout.

Furthermore, conventional strength training exercise machines typicallyallow the exerciser to exert as much or as little energy as they arewilling to exert. This may lead to an ineffective workout if theexerciser is not lifting a sufficient amount of weight a sufficientnumber of times. On the other hand, this may lead to injury if theexerciser over-exerts themselves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an example strength training machine thatuses the example methods and apparatus to control workouts describedherein.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of an alternative example of thestrength training machine of FIG. 1 showing an alternative example pinconnection.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the example pin connection depictedin FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of an alternative example strength trainingmachine with another alternative pin connection.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the alternative pin connection of thealternative example strength training machine of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an example display that may be used with the example strengthtraining machines of FIG. 1 or 4.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of an example process that may be performedusing the strength training machines described herein.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an example processor system that may beused to implement the example methods and apparatus described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Although the following describes example methods, apparatus or systemsincluding, among other components, software and/or firmware executed onhardware, it should be noted that such methods and apparatus are merelyillustrative and should not be considered as limiting. For example, itis contemplated that any or all of these hardware, software, andfirmware components could be embodied exclusively in hardware,exclusively in software or in any combination of hardware and software.Accordingly, while the following describes example methods andapparatus, persons of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciatethat these examples provided are not the only way to implement suchmethods and apparatus.

FIG. 1 depicts an example strength training machine 100 that may use theexample methods and apparatus described herein. While the examplestrength training machine 100 is depicted as a chest press machine, anyother type of strength training machine may incorporate the examplemethods and apparatus described herein. To enable exercising, theexample exercise machine 100 of FIG. 1 includes user engaging contactsurfaces 105 against which a user exerts force to push against an amountof strength training resistance 110. The user engaging contact surfaces105 may be any type of surface against which a user may exert a forcesuch as, for example, handles (as depicted in FIG. 1), a bar, a strap, afoot pedal, a pad, a grip, etc. In the illustrated example of FIG. 1,the strength training resistance 110 is provided by a stack of weights110. However, in other examples, the strength training resistance 110may be provided by other types of resistance including, for example,elastic resistive cords, as described in detail below.

The user engaging contact surfaces 105 are operatively coupled to thestrength training resistance 110 via a flexible coupling 115, which maybe any suitable flexible structure including, for example, a cable, arope, an elastic band, a chain, a belt, etc. Further, the flexiblecoupling 115 engages one or more pulleys or cams 120 that guide theflexible coupling 115 as it is used to lift and lower the weight platesselected form the stack of weights 110.

The example stack of weights 110 of FIG. 1 includes any of a variety ofmechanisms to select the amount of strength training resistance 110. Forexample, a movable pin 125, may be used to manually select a number ofweight plates from the stack of weights 110 for an exercise. In theillustrated example of FIG. 1, the example pin 125 may be used to selecta portion of (e.g., one or more weight plates from) the example stack ofweights 110 to move upward in response to the user pushing against thehandles 105.

Alternatively, the amount of strength training resistance 110 for anexercise may be automatically controlled by, for example, a controller130 that may be communicatively coupled to the strength training machine100 via any suitable hardwired and/or wireless communication paths orlinks 135. In this case, the controller 130 is communicatively coupledto a plurality of electromagnetic switches or automated pins 200, asshown in FIG. 2. The automated pins 200 may be used instead of or inaddition to the pin 125. When activated, one or more of the automatedpins 200 extends to engage a respective complimentary structure 300(e.g., a recess, a magnet, an engaging surface, etc.) of a weight platein the stack of weights 110, as shown in FIG. 3. In the example of FIGS.2 and 3, the complimentary structures 300 are located in the center ofthe weight plates in the stack of weights 110 similar to a hole that maybe engaged by the pin 125. Thus, when the user exerts a force on theuser engaging contact surfaces 105, the lowest activated automated pin200, the weight plate in the stack of weights 110 corresponding to thelowest automated pin 200, and each automated pin 200 and weight platesin the weight stack 110 located above the lowest automated pin 200, aremoved in a track 205 in response to the forces exerted by the userduring the exercise. A signal from the controller 130 to change thestrength training resistance 110 changes which of the pins 200 isactivated to provide a different amount of strength training resistance,i.e., weight or resistive force.

The strength training machine 100 may also include one or more sensors.The sensors may be machine-based sensors such as, for example, thesensors 155 on the handles 105. The sensors 155 may be used to gatherdata regarding a physiological condition of the user including, forexample, a heart rate. The strength training machine 100 may alsoinclude magnetic sensors 140, which may be used to gather data such as,for example, data related to an exercise parameter such as a number ofrepetitions that have occurred and/or an amount of weight that has beenlifted. Sensors, such as the sensors 140 shown in FIG. 1, are discussedin greater in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/370,753 (“SensorArrays for Exercise Equipment and Methods to Operate the Same”), whichis hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

In addition, the example exercise machine 100 may include remote sensorsor any other type of sensors that may be used to gather data from thestrength training machine 100 or the user such as, for example,thermometers, heart rate monitors and pulse sensors, clocks, respiratoryrate sensors, etc. The sensors (e.g., the sensors 140 and 155 as well asother sensors) may be used to gather a wide variety of data related tovarious exercise parameters and/or user physiology including, forexample, a number of repetitions, a number of sets, an amount of weightto be lifted, a number of elastic resistive cords to be deformed, aheart rate, an amount of calories burned, a body temperature, a rate ofrespiration, a blood oxygen level, a skin moisture level, etc.

The sensors 140 and 155 are operatively coupled to the controller 130,and the controller 130 may control or change the strength trainingresistance during a workout in a variety of ways. For example, thecontroller 130 may send a signal that changes the amount of weight tolifted or resistive force provided to the user. In particular, thecontroller 130 may increase or decrease a number of weights plates to belifted or a number of elastic resistive cords (shown in FIGS. 4 and 5)to be deformed. A deformation of an elastic resistive cord includesactivating, stretching, bending, twisting, or otherwise deforming acord. Such elastic cords are discussed in more detail below inconnection with FIGS. 4 and 5. Further, the controller 130 may changethe number of repetitions or sets the user is to perform, and/or thecontroller 130 may change the ability of the strength training machine100 to operate (e.g., the controller 130 may disable the strengthtraining machine 100).

The changes in the workout or exercise parameter(s) caused by thecontroller 130 may be based on a physiological condition or conditionsof the user. For example, the controller 130 may compare a heart rate ofthe user with a threshold or predetermined (e.g., target) heart rate. Ifthe heart rate of the user exceeds the threshold or predetermined heartrate, the controller 130 may send a signal to the strength trainingmachine 100 indicating that the amount of strength training resistanceshould be reduced. For example, this signal may decrease the strengthtraining resistance by, for example, decreasing the weight to be liftedor the number of elastic resistive cords to be deformed. A change in thestrength training resistance may be indicated by the controller 130based on any of a variety of physiological conditions of the user. Thus,for example, if a user starts using the strength training machine 100,and the sensor 155 detects or measures the heart rate of the user to be150 beats per minute (bpm), and the threshold heart rate is 120 bpm, thecontroller 130 may send a signal to the strength training machine 100 todecrease the amount of strength training resistance. A decrease in theamount of strength training resistance reduces the force exerted by theuser to perform the exercise, which should result in a lower user heartrate. Successive reductions in the amount of strength trainingresistance may b performed until the heart rate of the user equals orfalls below the threshold heart rate (e.g., a target heart rate).Alternatively, for example during circuit training, the user may want tomaintain a certain or minimum level of activity (e.g., a minimum hearrate). Thus, the controller 130 may send signals to increase the amountof strength training resistance until the heart rate of the user isabove a threshold rate (e.g., a minimum heart rate).

Furthermore, the controller 130 may indicate changes to a workout or theexercise parameters based on one of the exercise parameters. Thus, forexample, if a user is performing a workout that is to increase theamount of weight to be lifted or number of elastic resistive cords to bedeformed after a set of a certain number of repetitions then, on theperformance of the certain number of repetitions, the controller 130provides signals to cause an increase in strength training resistance.For example, if a user is to start using the strength training machine100 at 150 pounds and increase 25 pounds of weight after every tenrepetitions then, on the completion of ten repetitions at 150 pounds,the controller 130 sends a signal to the strength training machine 100to increase the weight to be lifted to 175 pounds. After ten morerepetitions, the weight is again increased to 200 pounds via a similarsignal. Finally, after ten repetitions at 200 pounds of weight, thecontroller 130 may send a signal to disable the strength trainingmachine 100, send a signal to change the amount of strength trainingresistance to any other amount, etc.

The controller 130 may also delay any change from any amount of strengthtraining resistance based on the amount of time spent at that level oramount of resistance. If the amount of time spent exercising at acertain level has been less than a certain threshold delay amount suchas, for example five minutes, the controller 130 will not change toanother amount of strength training resistance. This ensures the userwill spend an adequate amount of time with any particular amount ofstrength training resistance to realize the greatest benefit from theworkout.

The threshold values may also be based on an individualized workoutroutine for a specific user. Thus, the controller 130 may becommunicatively coupled to a processor 160 that includes memorycontaining data related to thresholds associated with the physiologicalcondition(s) of the user and/or exercise parameter(s) specific to theuser's workout. The memory may be, for example, a read only memory(RAM), random access memory (ROM), any other type of memory, or anycombination thereof. Alternatively or additionally, the user may carry acard or other device such as, for example, radio frequencyidentification (RFID) tag on which data may be stored, and which may beread by the controller 130 and subsequently used to control the user'sworkout. The controller 130 manages the user's individualized workout ina manner similar to that described above.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate another example strength training machine 400,which has many features similar to those of the example strengthtraining machine 100 of FIGS. 1-3. Similar numbers are used to designatesimilar structures. However, instead of a weight stack, the examplestrength training machine 400 of FIGS. 4 and 5 includes elasticresistive cords 500 (FIG. 5) to provide strength training resistance.Each elastic resistive cord 500 provides a corresponding amount ofstrength training resistance. The strength training machine 400 includesa plurality of pins 405 that may be manually or automatically engaged.When engaged, one or more of the pins 405 are coupled to correspondingrecesses 505 of corresponding bars 510. When the user moves the handles105, the bars 510 and any elastic resistive cords 500 that have beencoupled to the bars 510 move (e.g., are stretched) in a direction suchas, for example, upward. Any elastic resistive cord 500 that has notbeen coupled to one of the bars 510 will not move in response to theuser's performance of the exercise. Changing the number of pins 405coupled to the recesses 505 (i.e., the number of elastic resistive cords500 coupled to the bars 510) changes the amount of strength trainingresistance provided to the user. When automatically activated, the pins405 are signaled via a communication from the controller 130 in a mannersimilar to that described above.

The example strength training machines 100 and 400 may also include adisplay 190, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. The display 190 providesinformation regarding the exercise parameter(s), the real-timephysiological condition(s) of the user, the stored user thresholdphysiological condition(s), and/or the stored individualized exerciseparameter(s) (e.g., user goal(s) or target exercise parameter(s)). Theexample display 190 displays the target exercise parameter(s) andphysiological condition(s) for viewing by the user and then, as the userexercises, the display 190 displays the target exercise parameter(s) andphysiological condition(s) versus actual exercise parameter(s) andphysiological condition(s) determined from the data gathered by thesensors 155. Upon completion of the workout, the display 190 shows theactual exercise parameter(s), which may be stored in the processor 160or on the user's memory card for later recall, use or analysis.

Looking at the specific example display 190 shown in FIG. 6, the exampledisplay 190 includes an RFID tag reader 600 to identify the user. Whenthe user, for example, passes a membership card over the RFID tag reader600, the RFID tag reader 600 obtains information about the user such asan identification number associated with the user and/or otherinformation. Once the user is identified, the display 190 shows anidentification of the user such as, for example, the user's name 605. Asshown, the example display 190 includes many exercise parametersincluding, for example, a range of motion display 610, a number ofrepetitions in the current set display 615, the weight being lifted oramount of strength training resistance 620, and/or the number of sets625. Further, the example display 190 may include user goals or targetexercise parameters including, for example, a target number ofrepetitions 630, a target amount of weight to be lifted 635, and/or atarget number of the current set 640. The display 190 may also displayuser physiological conditions such as, for example, a user heart rate645, as well as corresponding target physiological conditions 650.

The display 190 may also include one or more outputs 655. In the exampleshown in FIG. 6, the output 655 may be a light and/or a sound. Theoutput 655 may be activated as a notification such as, for example, anotification that the user has over-exerted his or herself and needs tocease or otherwise reduce activity. In the illustrated example, theoutput 655 is shown as a cross-shaped light. However, the light may beof any desired shape or color and may blink. In addition, any soundassociated with the output 655 may be any sort of sound such as, forexample, a beep, a repetitive noise, a loud and sustained noise, or anyother type of alarm or sound.

The output 655 may be triggered based on a user physiological conditionthat is surpassed. For example, if a user's heart rate rises above acertain threshold heart rate, in addition to causing decrease in theamount of strength training resistance, the controller 130 may causethat the output 655 to be activated as well to call attention to theuser's physiological condition to the user and/or fitness club staff.Similarly, the output 655 may be triggered when any number ofphysiological conditions or exercise parameters exceed an upperthreshold or fall below a lower threshold. The output 655 may also besent to another display elsewhere in the facility in which the strengthtraining machines 100 and 400 are located to indicate to appropriatepersonnel (e.g., personal training or other fitness club personnel) thatthe user of the strength training machine 100 and 400 may needassistance and/or monitoring.

FIG. 7 depicts a flow diagram of an example process or method that mayused to control a workout on a strength machine (e.g., the examplemachine 100 and 400). In an example implementation, the operationsdepicted in the flow diagram of FIG. 7 may be implemented using machinereadable instructions that are executed by the example strength machines100 and 400 and associated controller 130. Some or all of the machinereadable instructions may form a program executed by a processor such asthe processor 160 discussed above. The program may be embodied insoftware stored on a tangible medium such as a CD-ROM, a floppy disk, ahard drive, a digital versatile disk (“DVD”), or a memory associatedwith the processor 160 and/or embodied in firmware or dedicated hardwarein a well-known manner. For example, the apparatus and system discussedabove may be implemented using software, hardware, and/or firmware.Further, although the example programs or processes are described withreference to the flow diagrams illustrated in FIG. 7, persons ofordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that many othermethods of implementing control of a strength machine may alternativelybe used. For example, the order of execution of the blocks may bechanged, and/or some of the blocks described may be changed, eliminated,or combined.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram depicting an example strength machine controlprocess 700 that may be performed by the exercise machines 100 and 400and associated controller 130, processor 160 and/or processor system 800(described below). The example strength machine control process 700initially begins when a strength training machine is activated for aworkout (block 705). The activation may include identifying a user andloading an individualized exercise program (block 710) (by, e.g., theRFID tag reader 600 of FIG. 6). The example strength machine controlprocess 700 then determines if machine based-sensors or remote sensorsare to be used (block 715) (e.g., the sensors 155 on the handles 105 ofthe machines 100 and 400 are machine-based sensors). Sensors coupled tothe user's person such as, for example, a thermometer, or a strap-onheart monitor could be used as a remote sensor). If remote sensors areused, the sensors are coupled to a processing system (block 720) (e.g.,to the controller 130 associated with the strength training machines 100and 400). Alternatively, the either the machine-based sensors and/or theremote sensors may be automatically sensed and block 715 may be skipped.

After the user begins his or her workout (block 725), data is gatheredby the sensors and sent to the processing system (block 730). Shortlythereafter, or concurrently, the gathered data is displayed (block 735)(for example on the display 190 of FIGS. 1, 4 and 6). The gathered datamay be any physiological condition of the user and/or exercise parameterof the strength training machine. In addition, stored informationregarding the user's goals and target exercise parameter(s) and/ortarget physiological condition(s) may also be displayed.

In addition to displaying gathered and/or stored data, the strengthmachine control process 700 also determines if any gatheredphysiological condition or exercise parameter has surpassed (i.e., hasexceeded or fallen below) a threshold (block 740) (e.g., the user'sactual heart rate exceeds the user's target heart rate or a maximumheart rate stored in the strength training machine 100 and 400). Thethreshold may be set by the manufacturer of the machine, by a health orfitness club facility, and/or by the user. If a threshold has beensurpassed, the strength machine control process 700 automaticallyreduces the strength training resistance (e.g., via the controller 130of FIGS. 1 and 4, as described above), automatically reduces the speedat which the machine operates, prompts the user (e.g., on the display190) to reduce the strength training resistance and/or to slow down, orany combination thereof (block 745). In addition, the strength machinecontrol process 700 determines if the threshold value has been surpassedby a specific amount, for example by a certain percentage (block 750)(e.g., the user's actual heart rate is 20% higher than the user's targetheart rate). If the threshold of the physiological condition or theexercise parameter has been surpassed by a certain percentage, thestrength machine control process 700 causes a notification (e.g., awarning) to be displayed (block 755).

After a notification has been displayed (block 755), the strengthmachine control process 700 then may cause the strength training machineto stop and/or display a message indicating that the workout has ended(block 760), and the results of the workout are displayed and/or sent tothe processing system or elsewhere (e.g., the user's memory card, anRFID tag, a central database in the fitness facility, etc.) (block 760).

If a user has not surpassed the physiological condition(s) or exerciseparameter threshold(s) by a certain percentage, the strength machinecontrol process 700 determines if the workout has otherwise beencompleted (block 765) by, for example, determining if the user has metany of his or her pre-programmed goals. If the workout has beencompleted, then the workout has ended and the results of the workout aredisplayed and sent to the appropriate recipient (block 760). However, ifthe workout is not complete and/or a user has not met specific goals,then the workout continues (block 770) and control returns to block 730,where data regarding the physiological condition(s) and exerciseparameter(s) are gathered, and the strength machine control process 700continues through blocks 735 and 740 as described above.

If, at block 740, the strength machine control process 700 determinesthat no threshold of a physiological condition or exercise parameter hasbeen surpassed, the workout continues. Further, the strength machinecontrol process 700 considers a delay time period during which thestrength machine control process 700 does not change the amount ofstrength training resistance such as, for example, the first fiveminutes of a workout at an amount of strength training resistance. Thisensures that the user exercises for a period of time with a particularamount of strength training resistance and does not proceed too quicklythrough his or her workout. Strength training workouts are moreefficient when time is spent in the workout, and the user is not pushingtoo quickly through repetitions. If the user has not worked out for aperiod of time longer than the delay time (block 775), the workoutcontinues (block 780) and control returns to block 730, where dataregarding the physiological conditions and exercise parameters aregathered, and the strength machine control process 700 continues throughblocks 735 and 740 as described above.

However, if the user has worked out for a period of time longer than thedelay time (block 775), then the strength machine control process 700determines if the current strength training resistance is greater thanthe resistance with which the user should be exercising at this stage inthe workout, including an incremental resistance increase (i.e., “theincreased strength training resistance”) (block 785). For example, theuser may have an individualized exercise parameter set so that strengthtraining resistance is increased increments of, for example, 10 pounds,which may be previously loaded at block 710. If the current strengthtraining resistance is greater than the increased strength trainingresistance, then the workout continues (block 780) and control returnsto block 730, where data regarding the physiological condition(s) andexercise parameter(s) are gathered, and the strength machine controlprocess 700 continues through blocks 735 and 740 as described above.

If the current strength training resistance is less than the amount ofincreased strength training resistance, then the strength trainingresistance is increased (block 790) (e.g., via the controller 130 ofFIGS. 1 and 4, described above). After increasing the amount of strengthtraining resistance (block 790), the workout continues (block 780) andcontrol returns to block 730, where data regarding the physiologicalcondition(s) and exercise parameter(s) are gathered, and the strengthmachine control process 700 continues through blocks 735 and 740 asdescribed above. Ultimately, the workout may continue through theabove-described blocks until the workout is complete and the user's goalis achieved (block 765) or a threshold of a physiological conditionand/or exercise parameter is surpassed by a certain percentage (block750).

As described above, the systems and methods described herein enable acontrolled workout, which allows a user to workout and achieve specificgoals including, for example, achieving a target heart rate, reaching anumber of calories burned, finishing the workout in a specific timeframe, lifting a certain amount of weight, controlling a workoutintensity, etc.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an example processor system 800 that may beused to implement the systems and methods described herein, includingthe controller 130. The example processor system 800 of FIG. 8 is incommunication with a main memory (including the ROM 805 and the RAM 810)via a bus 815. As shown in FIG. 8, the processor system 800 includes theprocessor 160 that is coupled to the bus 815. The processor 160 may beany suitable processor, processing unit or microprocessor. Although notshown in FIG. 8, the processor system 800 may be a multi-processorsystem and, thus, may include one or more additional processors that areidentical or similar to the processor 160 and that are communicativelycoupled to the interconnection bus 815.

The example RAM 810 of FIG. 8 may be implemented by dynamic randomaccess memory (DRAM), Synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), and/or any other type ofRAM device, and the example ROM 805 of FIG. 8 may be implemented byflash memory and/or any other desired type of memory device includingmass storage devices such as, for example, hard disk drives, opticaldrives, tape storage devices, etc. Access to the example memories 805and 810 is typically controlled by a memory controller (not shown) in aconventional manner.

To receive data from the sensors 155 and 140, the example processorsystem 800 includes any variety of conventional interface circuitry suchas, for example, an external bus interface 820. For example, theexternal bus interface 820 may provide one input signal path (e.g., asemiconductor package pin) for each of the sensors 140 and 155.Additionally or alternatively, the external bus interface 820 mayimplement any variety of time multiplexed interface to receive outputssignal from the sensors via fewer input signals.

The example processing system 800 also includes a display interface 825to communicate with the display 190. The display interface 825 may beused to communicate generated outputs (e.g., the warning output 655,discussed above). In addition, the processing system 800 may include aspeaker 830 to alternatively or additionally generate outputs.

In addition, to allow a user to be identified, the example processorsystem 800 include any variety of user identification interface 835.Example interfaces 835 include a keypad, an RFID tag reader, a universalserial bus (USB) memory interface, etc. For example, an exerciser mayidentify themselves by passing an associated device containing an RFIDtag (e.g., a membership card) near an RFID tag reader 600, as describedabove. When the membership card is detected and/or identified by theRFID tag reader 600, the example RFID tag reader 600 of FIG. 6 providesto the example processor system 800, for example, the exerciser'sidentification number (e.g., membership number) read and/or otherwisedetermined from the membership card.

To allow the example processor system 800 to interact with a remoteserver, the example processor system 800 of FIG. 8 includes any varietyof network interface 840 such as, for example, a wireless LAN interfacein accordance with, for instance, the Institute of Electronics andElectrical Engineers (IEEE) 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.15.4 (a.k.a. ZigBee)etc. standards. The example processor system 800 of FIG. 8 may use theexample network interface 840 to obtain target exercise parameters foran identified user and/or to provide exercise parameters determinedwhile the identified user exercises.

Although an example processor system 800 has been illustrated in FIG. 8,the example processor system 800 may be implemented using any of avariety of other and/or additional devices, components, circuits,modules, etc. Further, the devices, components, circuits, modules,elements, etc. illustrated in FIG. 8 may be combined, re-arranged,eliminated and/or implemented in any of a variety of ways. Forsimplicity and ease of understanding, the following discussionreferences the example processor system 800, but any processor systemcould be used instead.

Although certain example apparatus, methods, and machine readableinstructions have been described herein, the scope of coverage of thispatent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers allmethods, apparatus and articles of manufacture fairly falling within thescope of the appended claims either literally or under the doctrine ofequivalents.

1. An exercise machine comprising: a user engaging contact surface; apulley or a cam; and a flexible coupling to operatively couple anautomatically controlled strength training resistance to the userengaging contact surface via the pulley or the cam.
 2. An exercisemachine as defined in claim 1, wherein the user engaging contact surfacecomprises at least one of a handle, a bar, a strap, a foot pedal, a pad,or a grip.
 3. An exercise machine as defined in claim 1, wherein theautomatically controlled strength training resistance is provided by oneof a weight stack or an elastic cord.
 4. An exercise machine as definedin claim 1, wherein the flexible coupling comprises at least one of acable, a rope, an elastic band, a chain, or a belt.
 5. An exercisemachine as defined in claim 1, further comprising a control unit toautomatically control the strength training resistance.
 6. An exercisemachine as defined in claim 5, wherein the control unit is toautomatically control the strength training resistance by changing anamount of weight to be lifted, a number of elastic cords to be deformed,or a number of repetitions.
 7. An exercise machine as defined in claim5, wherein the control unit is to automatically control the strengthtraining resistance based on a physiological condition of the userduring use of the strength machine.
 8. An exercise machine as defined inclaim 7, wherein the physiological condition is at least one of a heartrate or an amount of calories burned.
 9. An exercise machine as definedin claim 7, wherein the physiological condition is at least one of abody temperature, a skin moisture level, or a blood oxygen level.
 10. Anexercise machine as defined in claim 7, further comprising a display todisplay at least one of the physiological condition or informationassociated with strength training resistance.
 11. An exercise machine asdefined in claim 7, further comprising an output to output anotification based on the physiological condition.
 12. An exercisemachine as defined in claim 5, wherein control unit is to automaticallycontrol the strength training resistance based on an individualizedexercise program for the user.
 13. A system to control a workout on astrength machine, the system comprising: a sensor interface to receive aphysiological condition of a user during use of the strength machine,and a controller coupled to the strength machine to cause a change of anexercise parameter based on the physiological condition.
 14. A system tocontrol a workout on a strength machine as defined in claim 13, whereinthe controller is to automatically change the exercise parameter.
 15. Asystem to control a workout on a strength machine as defined in claim13, wherein the change of the exercise parameter is performed by theuser in response to a signal from the controller.
 16. A system tocontrol a workout on a strength machine as defined in claim 13, whereinthe physiological condition is at least one of a heart rate or an amountof calories burned.
 17. A system to control a workout on a strengthmachine as defined in claim 13, wherein the physiological condition isat least one of a body temperature, a skin moisture level, or a bloodoxygen level.
 18. A system to control a workout on a strength machine asdefined in claim 13, wherein the exercise parameter is at least one ofan amount of weight to be lifted, a number of elastic cords to bedeformed, or a number of repetitions.
 19. A system to control a workouton a strength machine as defined in claim 13, further comprising adisplay to display at least one of the physiological condition or theexercise parameter.
 20. A system to control a workout on a strengthmachine as defined in claim 13, further including an output to provide anotification based on the physiological condition.
 21. A system tocontrol a workout on a strength machine as defined in claim 13, furthercomprising: an input to identify the user; and an individualizedexercise program for the user, wherein the individualized exerciseprogram includes a stored individualized user parameter and a storedindividualized exercise parameter.
 22. A system to control a workout ona strength machine as defined in claim 21, wherein the controller is tochange the exercise parameter based on one or more of the physiologicalcondition, the stored individualized user parameter, or the storedindividualized exercise parameter.
 23. A system to control a workout ona strength machine as defined in claim 21, wherein the storedindividualized user parameter is at least one of a heart rate, an amountof calories burned, a time, a number of repetitions, an amount of weightto be lifted, a number of elastic cords to be deformed, a bodytemperature, a skin moisture level, or a blood oxygen level.
 24. Amethod to control a workout on a strength machine, the methodcomprising: receiving a physiological condition of a user during use ofthe strength machine, and changing an exercise parameter of the strengthmachine based on the physiological condition.
 25. A method to control aworkout on a strength machine as defined in claim 24, wherein thephysiological condition is at least one of a body temperature, a skinmoisture level, or a blood oxygen level.
 26. A method to control aworkout on a strength machine as defined in claim 24, wherein theexercise parameter is at least one of an amount of weight to be lifted,a number of elastic cords to be deformed, or a number of repetitions.27. A method to control a workout on a strength machine as defined inclaim 24, further including outputting a notification based on thephysiological condition.
 28. A method to control a workout on a strengthmachine as defined in claim 24, further comprising: identifying theuser; and accessing an individualized exercise program for the user,wherein the individualized exercise program includes a storedindividualized user parameter and a stored individualized exerciseparameter.
 29. An exercise machine comprising: means for applying astrength training resistance to a user; means for flexibly coupling thestrength training resistance to the means applying the strength trainingresistance to the user; and means for automatically changing thestrength training resistance.
 30. A system to control a workout on astrength machine, the system comprising: means to receive aphysiological condition of a user during use of the strength machine,and means to change an exercise parameter of the strength machine basedon the physiological condition.